Alexander Stewart was converted to
Christ during the dramatic revival in
Moulin, in the Highlands of Scotland,
in 1799. This revival fuelled a strong
outpouring of missionary activity and
church planting throughout Scotland.
Stewart felt the call of God on his
life and attended Robert Haldane’s
Theological Seminary, following this
with years of evangelism and church
planting in Perthshire.
In 1818 Alexander and his wife, Janet,
with their young family, emigrated to
Upper Canada—the New World was opening
up and many Scots were taking advantage
of the promise of free land, employment
opportunities and the excitement of a
frontier life. Alexander saw it as an
opportunity to bring gospel light to
the settlers and new immigrants, as
well as a place to raise his family.
They eventually settled in York (now
Toronto) and established the first
Baptist church there. Stewart’s church
planting and preaching ministry also
extended to the surrounding townships
of Esquesing, Chinguacousy and Eramosa.
Alexander Stewart’s story is one of
persistent zeal for the extension of
God’s kingdom and a fervent desire to
do what he could to bring the gospel to
a young country. Glenn Tomlinson has
extensively mined the archives and
resources from this time in Scottish
and Canadian history to bring us this
compelling story of a man determined to
establish centres for the gospel in
Scotland and Canada.